Linda Hutcheon

Definition

Linda Hutcheon is a prominent Canadian literary theorist and scholar known for her work on postmodernism and metafiction. She has extensively analyzed how metafiction challenges traditional narratives by drawing attention to its own fictional nature, effectively blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Her insights help us understand how authors like John Fowles use metafictional techniques to engage readers and question the nature of storytelling.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Hutcheon's book 'A Poetics of Postmodernism' outlines her theories on how metafiction creates a new form of narrative engagement.
2. She argues that metafiction serves both to entertain and to provoke critical thought about the act of reading and storytelling.
3. Hutcheon emphasizes that understanding metafiction involves recognizing its ironic playfulness and complexity.
4. Her analysis of John Fowles includes a focus on how Fowles's novels challenge traditional roles of authorship and reader involvement.
5. Hutcheon's ideas have influenced a wide range of literary criticism, extending beyond fiction to include film and other media.

Review Questions

• How does Linda Hutcheon's concept of metafiction influence our understanding of narrative structures in literature?
  • Linda Hutcheon's concept of metafiction fundamentally changes how we perceive narrative structures by emphasizing self-awareness in storytelling. Metafiction invites readers to recognize the constructed nature of narratives, prompting them to question the authenticity and reliability of what they are reading. This shift encourages a deeper engagement with texts, as readers must navigate layers of meaning that reveal the artifice behind storytelling.
• In what ways does John Fowles employ Hutcheon's ideas about metafiction in his works?
  • John Fowles employs Hutcheon's ideas about metafiction by incorporating self-reflexive elements in his narratives, which compel readers to examine the conventions of literature itself. For instance, in 'The French Lieutenant's Woman', Fowles allows multiple endings, showcasing the authorial role in shaping stories and the reader's active participation in making meaning. This engagement aligns with Hutcheon's assertion that metafiction challenges traditional narrative forms by making readers aware of their role in interpreting fiction.
• Evaluate the impact of Linda Hutcheon's theories on contemporary literary criticism and how they relate to the evolution of narrative forms.
  • Linda Hutcheon's theories have significantly impacted contemporary literary criticism by encouraging a reevaluation of narrative forms and their interactions with postmodern thought. Her emphasis on metafiction has led critics to explore how narratives can serve as sites for questioning authority, truth, and representation. This has resulted in a broader understanding of literature as a dynamic conversation rather than a mere reflection of reality, influencing not just fiction but also other media such as film and visual arts in their exploration of narrative complexity.

Related terms

Metafiction: A type of fiction that self-consciously addresses the devices of fiction, often highlighting its own status as an artificial construct.

Postmodernism: An artistic and literary movement characterized by a skeptical, self-aware approach that often questions the conventions of narrative and representation.

Intertextuality:

The relationship between texts and how they reference or echo each other, often used to create deeper meaning within literary works.